Unsaturated ether products and process of producing same



Patented Feb. 6, 1940 PROCESS OF PRODUCING SAME Wallace 11. Oarothcrs and aim B. Dykstra, Wilmington. Del, assiznors to E. I. du Pont de Nemours a Company, Wilmington, Del., a corporation Delaware No Drawing. Application July 12, 1935,- Serial No. 31,092

51 Claims. (omen-9s) This invention relates to new chemical compounds and their methods of preparation. More particularly it relates to the polymers of these compounds and the methods of their polymerization. Still more particularly it relates to the intermiediate products in the process of their production. Still more particularly it relates to their applications.

Many derivatives of butadiene are known. In general it has been found that butadienes having a single activating substituent in the beta position are superior to other derivatives as sources of synthetic rubber. Many possible derivatives have been diiiicult to prepare, however.

It is an object of this invention to prepare new beta substituted butadienes and to polymerize and apply them. A more specific object is to prepare, polymerize and apply butadienes having an alkoxy or aryloxy substituent in the beta position, i. e., ethers of hydroxy-2-butadiene-1,3. A further object is the preparation of the intermediate products from which these butadienes are obtained. A still further object is to provide a new source of synthetic rubbers. Other objects will appear hereinafter.

These objects are accomplished by preparing compounds having the general formula cmc (OR) zCHzCHzOR and then converting these materials into compounds of the general formula Cm=CH(0R) CH=CH2 (oxyprenes) by thermal decomposition. These compounds represented by the latter formula wherein R is a hydrocarbon radical are, for simplicity, called oxyprenes. These oxyprenes have been found to be polymerizable and as disclosed hereinafter 2. The ketal-or trialkoxy butaneis heated,

whereupon it breaks down with the elimination of alcohol yielding the oxyprene:

CLEO (OC2H5) RCHZCHZOC2H5" 3. At sufliciently high temperatures the dissociation of the ketal (II) to the oxyprene is complete, but at lower temperatures intermediate compounds involving the ehmination of only one molecule of alcohol are formed. These are the diethoxybutenes, probably having the formula by further heating they are in turn converted to the oxyprene.

4, At lower temperatures any of the compounds III, IV and V, will reunite with alcohol yielding the ketal II. If this alcohol is butyl alcohol and the temperature is adjusted so as to eliminate the ethyl alcohol, the product will be an oxyprene in which the ethyl group (above) has been replaced by butyl. Similarly by the action of phenol, followed by the elimination of ethyl alcohol, a phenoxybutadiene is formed.

5. The oxyprene is polymerized under various conditions. The oxyprene may also be polymerized in admixture with other polymerizable materials yielding a mixed polymer.

- III- polymers (VI) III-l-unsaturated compoundsmixed polymers (VII).

The compounds 11 to VII formulated above each illustrate a class. Generalized formulas are obtained by replacing the C2H5 groups by R where R is presumed to be any alkyl, aryl, alkaryl, or alicyclic group, and when more than one R group occurs in a formula the difierent Rs need not be the same.

The various classes of reactions and compounds will now be described in more detail under the reaction numbers 1 to 5 used in the condensed description just given.

Reaction 1.ln this process a compound of the type CHsCOCHzCHzOR (I) is converted to a compound of the type CH3C(OR) zCHzCHzOR (II). (The Rs are not necessarily identical.) The compounds 1 form no part of the invention and they may be obtained in any desired manner. A convenient method consists in the addition of an alcohol to methyl vinyl ketone as described in copending application of H. S. Rothrock, Serial No. 629,305, flied August 18, 1932, now U. 8. Patent No. 2,010,828. A preferred method of bringing about this transformation (formation of II) consists in treating the compound I with an ester of orthoformic acid in the presence of an alcohol and an acidic catalyst. such as a small amount of hydrogen chloride, ammonium chloride. or p-toluene sulfonic acid. It is desirable to use compound I, orthoformic ester, and alcohol in a mol ratio of approximately 1:1:2 (or greater). Other proportions may be used, however. If the R's in the alcohol (ROH) and the orthoformic ester (HC(OR):) are alike. the R's in the ketal group will be alike; if the R in the alcohol and in the ester are different or if the orthoformate is a mixed ester, a mixture of prodweek and then heated at C. for 15 minutes. On working up the mixture as in Example I there was obtained 56 grams of the ether-ketal, CHaC(OC4H9)2CH:CH2OC4Ho, and 87 grams of the unsaturated ketal or dibutoxybutene. which is believed to have the formula These products are described in Tables I and III, respectively.

The compounds of type II which have been prepared are colorless liquids having a faint ethereal odor. They are hydrolyzed in the presence of mineral acids yielding the corresponding compounds I. They may be used as softeners for resins and cellulose derivatives. Physical data for the compounds II are given below in Table I.

ucts containing both simple and mixed ketals will result. The reaction of compounds I with the orthoformates and alcohol takes place at room temperature and is generally complete within a few days. Gentle heating increases the rate of the reaction. The ketal is separated by neutralizing the catalyst and distilling the mixture, preferably under reduced pressure. The procedure is illustrated in the following examples.

EXAMPLE 1 A mixture of 51 grams of p-methoxyethyl methyl ketone (CHaCOCHzCI-IrOCI-Ia), 58 grams of methyl orthoformate (HC(OCH:4):), 51 grams of methyl alcohol, and 0.01 gram of hydrogen chloride was allowed to stand at room temperature for 19 hours and then heated at 50 C. for 30 minutes. The mixture was cooled, made alkaline with ammonium hydroxide, dried over magnesium sulfate, and distilled. This gave 65 grams of the ketal (CHzC(OCI-Iz) 2CH2CH2OCH3) which represents a yield of 88 per cent. The product is described in Table I.

Substitutes for orthoformic ester, such as r nascent orthoformic or orthoacetic esters (Ber.

40, 3020 (1907)) and. orthosilicic esters (Ber. 5'7, 795 (1924)) may be used in converting compounds I to compounds II but they are in general less satisfactory.

It has been stated that compound I is obtained from methyl vinyl ketone and an alcohol. It is possible to prepare compounds II directly from methyl vinyl ketone by reaction with an orthoformate as illustrated in the following experiment. The general conditions of reaction are similar to those used in carrying out Reaction I. above except that an acid catalyst is preferred. This method is less desirable only for economic reasons.

EXAMPLE 2 A mixture of 42 grams methyl vinyl ketone, 209 grams butyl orthoformate, 133 grams butyl alcohol, and 0.05 gram hydrogen chloride was allowed to stand at room temperature for one Reaction 2.The oxyprenes III are formed by the thermal decomposition of the ketals II. The reaction takes place in the absence of a catalyst but is greatly accelerated by the presence of various compounds particularly by those having an acidic reaction. As compounds of this type may be mentioned magnesium sulfate, potassium bisulfate, camphor sulfonic acid, and p-toluene sulfonic acid and similar weakly acidic compounds. Only a very small amount of catalyst is needed, generally from 0.001 per cent to 1.0 per cent on the basis of the ketal. The particular temperature at which decomposition begins is dependent upon the particular ketal and catalyst used. In the case of CH3C(OC2H5)2CH2CH2OC2H5, for example, decomposition begins at about C. when no catalyst is used, at 100 C. when potassium bisulfate is used, and at 65 C. when ptoluene sulfonic acid is used. In general it may be said that the temperature which marks the beginning of the decomposition of any of the ketals II will be found in the range from 50 to 200 C. and, in fact, most of them will be found starting to decompose between 100 and C. These two ranges of temperature include decomposition both in the presence and in the absence of catalysts.

It is desirable to carry out the reaction in such a manner that the decomposition products, 1. e., the alcohol and the oxyprene, are removed from the reaction mixture assoon as they are formed. This tends to minimize side reactions, such as the polymerization of the oxyprene. After removing the decomposition products from the reaction system, the alcohol is separated from the oxyprene by a suitable method and the latter is distilled. It is desirable to separate the alcohol because it tends to recombine with the oxyprene. This is readily done in the case of the lower alcohols by washing them out with water. Alcohols which are insoluble in water can be removed by reaction with chemical reagents which are relatively insensitive to the oxyprene. The alcohol and oxy rene may also be separated by low temperature vacuum distillation. As will be shown in the following examples, the oxyprene can be prepared by either a batch or continuous process.

EXAMPLE 3 Twenty grams of CHaC(( )CH:):CHaCH2OCH:

observed for the ethoxy derivative. Ethoxybutadiene is readily hydrolyzed by dilute mineral acids, yielding ethyl alcohol and methyl vinyl ketone. In carbon tetrachloride solution it absorbs four atoms of bromine. It reacts with 1,4-

grams methoxybutadiene (66 per cent yield) and 1.5 grams of dimethoxybutene, probably CI-IaC (OCHz) 2CH=CH2 EXAMPLE 4 Fifty-five grams of CHaC (OCzHs) 2CH2CH2OC2H5 was heated in a distilling flask at 130-200 C. until distillation ceased. This required about three hours. On separating the products as in Example. 3. 16 grams of ethoxy-2-butadiene-1,3 was obtained.

EXAMPLE 5 During the course of about four hours the ketal. CH3C(OC2H5) 2CH2CH2OC2H5, was dropped slowly into a heated flask containing 0.01 gram of potassium bisulfate. The ketal was added at such a rate that approximately 20 grams was present in the flask at all times, the flask being heated at 120-140" C. to cause steady distillation of the decomposition products, i. e., ethyl alcohol and ethoxy-2-butadiene-l,3. Some of the intermediate, diethoxybutene, probably diethoxy-2,2-butene-3, also distilled off. The decomposition products were collected in dilute potassium carbonate solution and were worked up by further washing with dilute potassium carbonate solutions followed by drying and distilling. From 126 grams of the ketal there were obtained in this manner 39 grams of ethoxybutadiene (59 per cent conversion) and 12 grams of diethoxybutene (13 per cent conversion). turned to the. process to yield more ethoxybutadiene.

In general the oxyprenes are liquids having an ethereal odor. ative oxyprenes are given in Table II. The structure CH2=C(OR) CI-I=CH: is assigned to these products on the basis of the following reactions The latter can be re- I Physical properties of represent- Reaction 3.As indicated in the examples on the preparationof the oxyprenes, an appreciable amount of a dialkoxybutene, believed to have a structure corresponding to the formula CHaC (OR) aCH=CH2 (IV) is obtained as a by-product. structurally this compound is believed to be the ketal of methyl vinyl ketone, but to distinguish it from the ketal CH3C(OR)2CH2CH2OR (II) it will be referred to as a butene derivative, e. g., as diethoxy-2,2-butene-3.

As is apparent from the qualifications put upon them each time they are mentioned both formulae of the two butenes, (IV) and (V) have not been proved so unquestionably that it can be said that they are absolutely certain. The criteria, however, point-to these as the correct ones. Moreover, although there may be slight doubt as to the formula it may be stated that two diiferent isomeric butenes are obtained in each case and that these two butenes can be assigned to one or the other oftwo groups according to their physical and chemical properties. These two groups have been called type (IV) and type (V) above. For convenience hereinafter the fact that the formula assigned to the particular butene is not absolutely certain, will not be noted each time the butene is referred to but it is to be understood that such qualification is intended and that the formula where given is intended to classify the butene with others having like physical and chemical properties so as to distinguish it from its isomer.

The butene IV appears to be formed as an intermediate in the preparation of the oxyprene from the Ketal II. If the decomposition of the ketal is conducted in such a manner that only the oxyprene and the alcohol can escape from the reaction system, compound IV does not appear among the products. The decomposition of IV is catalyzed by acidic materials; a specific illustration is given in subsequent Example 6. The substituted butenes of type IV are readily hydrolyzed by dilute mineral acids, yielding methyl vinyl ketone and alcohol. They are not polymerized appreciably by the addition of iodine. They add alcohols at 100 C. to form ketals of type II. Physical data for various compounds of this class are given in Table III.

When the ketals II are heated in the presence of basic materials, a disubstituted butene (V) is formed which is isomeric with the butene derivatives IV mentioned above. Butenes V yield polymers when treated with iodine. They react slowly with alcohol at C. forming ketals of type II. Oxidation of the ethyl derivative yields ethyl acetate. In view of these reactions, compounds V are assigned the general formula CH:C(OR) =CHCH:OR. On heating in the presence of acidic compounds they yield the corresponding oxyprenes but the yield is generally poor. Examples of the preparation and decomposition of the substituted butenes of type V are given in subsequent Examples 7 and 8. Members of this class, depending upon their boiling points, may be used as solvents or softeneres in coating compositions, e. g., in lacquers containing cellulose derivatives. Physical data for various members of type V are given in Table III.

EXAMPLE 6 Following the method described in Example 5, 71 grams of CH3C(OC2Hs)2CH=CI-I: was decomposed in the presence of about 0.05 gram of potassium blsulfate. Decomposition occurred smoothly at 100-140 C. giving 33 grams of ethoxybutadiene (69 per cent yield) which was separated as in Example 5.

EXAMPLE 7 A mixture of 57 grams of CHaC (OCzHs) 2CH2CH2OC2H5 and 0.1 gram aluminum oxide was heated in a distilling flask. Decomposition started at about C. and preceded smoothly at 110-165 C. with the distillation of alcohol and almost no ethoxybutadiene. On distilling the residue in the flask under diminished pressure 41 grams of CHaC(OC2Hs) =CHCH2OC2Hs was obtained which represents a yield of 95 per cent.

EXAMPLE 8 Twenty-eight grams of CHaC (OC4H9) =CHCH:OC4H9 and 0.05 gram of magnesium sulfate were heated in a distilling flask at 150-170" C. for one hour. The distillate was freed from butyl alcohol by washing with water and distilled. The products obtained were: 5 grams butoxy-2-butadiene-l,3 (28 per cent conversion), 2 grams w... I 3 HEHzOR on hydrolysis and give liquid 4.-The preparation of oxyprenes from the ketals is a reversible reaction. i. e., compounds III, IV and V reunite with alcohol at temperatures below the dissociation temperature of the ketal. This may be illustrated in equation form as follows:

Increase in temperature shifts the equilibrium to the left. The elimination of alcohol from the system also tends to shift the equilibrium to the left.

The R's in the above equation may represent a simple or substituted alkyl, aryl, alkaryl. or alicyciic group. The R's may be alike or different. If, for example, ethoxybutadiene is reacted with butyl alcohol a compound of the formula CHJC (OCrI-Is) (OC4H0) CH==CHz is formed which yields ethyl alcohol and butoxybutadiene on heating to the dissociation temperature. In the decomposition of compounds of type CHsC(OR) (OR') CH=CHa the B group having the lower molecular weight is generally removed. This furnishes a method for converting one oxyprene into another. This is the preferred procedure for preparing oxyprenes in which R is a heavy group, e. g., an aryl group.

Compounds III, IV and V also react with polyhydric alcohols, such as glycol, glycerol, cellulose, etc. In the case of compounds III (the oxyprenes) resinous products'are generally obtained.

Mercaptans and thiophenois react with compounds III-V in much the same manner as the alcohols and phenols. However, the resulting compounds are more resistant to decomposition than the corresponding oxygen compounds, so that sulfur analogs of the oxyprenes have been obtained only in poor yield.

Specific examples of the reaction 01' alcohol, phenols, etc. with compounds of types 1JIV are given below.

- EXAMPLE 9 Seven grams of ethyl alcohol and 3.5 grams of ethoxybutadiene was heated in a sealed glass tube at 100 C. for 24 hours and then distilled under 10 mm. pressure. The products consisted chiefly of 4.5 grams ethyl alcohol, 4 grams of the ketal, CH3C(OC2H5)2CH2CH2OC2H5, and 1 gram of polymerized ethoxybutadiene.

CH3C(QC4HQ)ZCH=CHZ When the above reaction was carried out at C. only a small amount of the trlethoxy comtogether with5grams of recovered pound was obtained; the chief product under CHaC(OC4Hs)==CHCH2OC4Ha these conditions was CH3C(OC2Hs)rCH=CI-I2.

TABLE III Compounds IV and V-The substituted butenes MR Probable formula cg d? n} Calcd Found OH;(OCH;)=CH=CI12 98-100/760 .8756 1.4038 3213 32.41 cmcwcmow =cu. 69/100 84701.4062 41.96 41.82 cmc ocmg=crrcmocma. 101 1 87111.4242 41.96 42.24 cH.o(0c.H.).cH=cn, rs-so s 84971.4238 60.44 00.09 cn,c oc.n. =cncmoc.n 01-93 4 86331.4342 00.44 00.42 cmowclmnoolnvcrhcn, 82/3 1 0345 1. 5128 56. as as. 79 CH C(OCsHs)=CHCHaOCsHs 142 1 .saso

EXAMPLE 10 A mixture of 8 grams of ethyl alcohol and 4 grams of CI-IaC(OC2H5) 2CH=CHz was heated at 100 C. for 20 hours. On distillation there was obtained in addition to recovered reactants, 2.5 grams of CH3C(OC2H5)2CH2CH2OC2H5.

EXAIVIPLE 11 A mixture of 15 grams of ethoxy-2-butadiene- 1,3, 11 grams of butyl alcohol, and 0.1 gram of magnesium sulfate was distilled at atmospheric pressure until the distillation temperature reached C. and then the pressure was reduced to 18-100 mm. The products isolated were: 2 grams of ethyl alcohol, 6 grams of ethoxybutadiene, 2 grams of butyl alcohol, 6 grams of dibutoxybutene (presumably and 6 grams of an unidentified residue. The dibutoxybutene (B. P. '7981 C./8 mm.) decomposed when heated with a trace of potassium bisulfate to give butyl alcohol and butoxy-Z-butadime-1,3 in good yield.

EXAMPLE 12 A mixture of 14 grams ethoxybutadiene and 40 grams of abietyl alcohol was heated at C. for 22 hours. A small amount of potassium acid sulfate was added and the mixture heated at 100-200 C. until the distillation of ethyl alcohol (4 grams) and unreacted ethoxybutadiene (5 grams) ceased. The residue was then heated under 1 mm. pressure until the unreacted abietyl alcohol (22 grams) distilled over. The product which did not distill was abietoxybutadiene,

and its polymer. It resembled ester gum in general appearance and softened at about C. It was insoluble in alcohol and acetone but soluble in benzene and kerosene. It gave rapidly drying films similar to those obtained from ester gum.

EXAMPLE 13 A mixture of 15 grams of ethoxy-2-butadiene- 1,3 and 14 grams of phenol reacted exothermically at room temperature. When the reaction subsided, the mixture was heated at 110 C. for five hours. Distillation of the reaction products gave 3 grams of phenol, 17 grams of ethoxyphenoxybutene (presumably CH2=CHC (OCzHs) (OCsHs) CH3) boiling at 82 C./3 mm., 6 grams of liquid boiling at l50-162 C./3 mm., and a small amount of viscous residue. On heating 10 grams of the ethoxyphenoxybutene at -225 C. in the presence of 0.01 gram of potassium bisulfate, it decomposed giving ethyl alcohol and 5 grams of phenoxybutadiene, B. P. 7174 C./ 3 mm.

EXAMPLE 14 CsHmOz; its properties suggest that it is either a ,s-substituted butadiene (CH2=CHC (OCHzCH2OH) :CHz)

or a cyclic ketal (GH CH (CH5) 0 CHILE!) Glycerol gave chiefly resinous products when heated with ethoxybutadiene at 110-130 C.

EXAMPLE 15 'Other properties observed for this product are a: 1.010; 1a,: 1.5572; M calcd.

for formula indicated, 51.82; MB found, 51.75. The product showed no tendency to polymerize on exposure to air.

Reaction 5.The oxyprenes polymerize slowly on standing, giving resinous or rubber-like products depending upon the oxyprene. Ethoxybutadiene, for example, yields a synthetic rubber, whereas phenoxybutadiene yields a resin. The polymerization of oxyprenes is accelerated by light, heat, and various catalysts, such as air, ozone, inorganic peroxides, perborates, organic peroxides, aldehydes, alkali metals, iodine, metallic halides, metallo-organic compounds, and various acids, including hydrogen cyanide and acetic acid. In general three types of polymers can be obtained; namely, liquids, resins, and rubber-like products. Use of low temperatures and absence of diluents and catalysts favor the formation of rubber-like polymers. Elevated temperature promotes the formation of liquid polymers. Certain catalysts, notably iodine and hydrogen cyanide, bring about the formation of liquid oxyprene polymers which contain a preponderance of dimer.

The oxyprenes can be polymerized in the presence of other compounds, e. g., solvents, plasticizers, resins, oils, rubber, cellulose derivatives, pigments, etc. This often leads to the formation of amore intimate and compatible mixture than can be secured by simply mixing the polymerized oxyprene with these materials. Oxyprenes may also be polymerized in the presence of other polymerizable materials, e. g., vinyl ethers; vinyl esters; hydrocarbon dienes including butadiene, isoprene; styrene; drying oils; acrylic acid derivatives; methacrylic acid derivatives, such as methacrylic nitrile and methyl methacrylate; etc. Products prepared in this way are generally interpolymers and differ in properties from mechanical mixtures of the polymers prepared separately.

Specific examples of the polymerization of oxyprenes and applications of the polymers are given below,

EXAMPLE 16 Forty grams of ethoxy-2-butadiene-l,3 was heated in a sealed glass tube at 130 C. for 13 days. Substantially complete polymerization occurred, the product consisting of about equal amounts of dimer (B. P. 105-125 C./ mm.) and solid polymer. The latter was a light colored, soft, sticky, elastic resin soluble in acetone, ethyl acetate, and benzene, but insoluble in water, iigroin and alcohol.

Similar polymers were obtained using small amounts of benzoyl peroxide as a catalyst.

EXAMPLE 17 Approximately 1 cc. of a 2 per cent solution of iodine in chloroform was added to grams of ethoxy-2-butadiene-1,3. Rapid polymerization occurred with the development of considerable heat. Distillation of the mixture after three days showed that 30 per cent of the ethoxybutadiene had polymerized. About 65 per cent of the polymer consisted of liquid dimer and trimer while the remainder was semi-resinous in character.

EXAMPLE 18 Approximately 0.1 gram sodium was added to 3 grams ethoxybutadiene. After four days the ethoxybutadiene gelled; after 18 days, treatment of the gel with methyl alcohol gave a methyl alcohol-insoluble, rubber-like ethoxybutadiene polymer.

EXAMPLE 19 EXALQPLE 20 On exposing a quartz tube containing butoxy- 2-butadiene-1,3 to ultraviolet light for one week, a 13 per cent yield of polymer was obtained. The polymer was a white, opaque, fibrous solid which was somewhat sticky and elastic. It was insoluble in alcohol, acetone, and ethyl acetate. In chloroform and benzene it lost its opacity but did not dissolve.

- EXAMPLE 21 A small amount of phenoxybutadiene was poured on a glass plate and exposed to air at 20-30 C. Within two hours the phenoxybutadiene set to a sticky film. The film became tack-free in two days and was hard and tough at the end of a week.

This example shows that phenoxybutadiene has the properties of a drying oil. As in the case of drying oils the transformation of phenoxybutadiene from a liquid to a hard film is hastened by a variety of compounds including oxidizing agents, such as benzoyl peroxide, and metallic driers of the types used with drying oils. The properties of the film may be altered by adding substances, such as resins, drying oils, softeners, pigments, cellulose derivatives, etc.

EXAMPLE 22 A lacquer composition was made of the following ingredients:

Parts by weight Nitrocellulose /g second) 10 Dlbutoxy-L3-butene-2 3 Ethyl alcohol 8 Ester solvents 20 Aromatic hydrocarbons 10 Films prepared from this lacquer were rapid, drying, clear, and flexible. The butenyl ether functioned as a softener.

EXAMPLE 23 A lacquer of the following composition gave clear films which became tack-free in one-half hour and hard (but flexible) in one hour.

Parts by weight Resinous thermal polymer of ethoxybutadiene l0 Nitrocellulose 0/. second) 10 Ethyl acetate 100 Butyl acetate EXAMPLE 24 A varnish of the following composition gave clear films which became tack-free in three hours and hard in 18 hours. The films were smooth and tough.

Parts by weight Thermal polymer of ethoxybutadiene 10 Heat treated China-wood oil 10 Ethyl acetate 70 Toluene (containing cobalt drier) EXAMPLE 25 Films made from a lacquer of the following composition dried well and were hard, tough and flexible.

A varnish was made of equal parts of oil modified polyhydric alcohol-polybasic acid resin, phenoxybutadiene and toluene. Films prepared from the varnish were hard and tough after a few days drying.

EXAMPLE 27 Films of a varnish of the following composi- I tion dried, within a few days to form hard, tough coatings.

Parts by weight Phenoxybutadiene 30 Linseed oil l0 Driercontaining 2% cobalt 0.3

on aging. The products of this invention, de-

pending upon their properties, may be used for a variety of purposes: for example, as ingredicuts in coating compositions either as solvent, plasticizer, or resin; in plastic compositions; in adhesives; and in impregnating compositions. Moreover, the products may be modified to suit certain applications by hydrogenation, hydrolysis, halogenation, etc.

It is apparent that many widely different embodiments of this invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and, therefore, it is not intended to be limited except as indicated in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. As a new product a compound of the general fonnula in which R is a hydrocarbon radical.

2. As a new product a compound of the general formula I in which R is an open chain hydrocarbon radical. 3. The process which comprises heating to a temperature between about 50 C. and about 200 C. a compound of the general formula (|)-R CH==C CH=CH1 in which R is a hydrocarbon radical with a compound of the formula 31-0-41 in which R1 is a hydrocarbon radical of higher molecular weight than R, then separating a compound of the general formula (L-R CH|GGH=CH:

. *R1 and decomposing the compound so obtained in such a way that one of the products of the decomposition is a compound of the group consisting of alcohols and phenols by heating the said compound to a temperature of about 50 C. to about 200 C.

4. A polymer of a compound of the general formula cH1=( :--cH=-cH1 in which R is a hydrocarbon radical.

5. Theprocess which comprises polymerizing a compound of the general formula CHs=C-CH=CH: in which R is a hydrocarbon radical.

6. A coating composition comprising a substantial amount of a polymer as described in claim 4 and a solvent therefor.

'I. In a process which involves decomposing a compound of the general formula in such a way that one of the products of the decomposition is a compound of the group consisting of alcohols and phenols, the step which comprises heating the compound of the general formula to a temperature of about 50 C. to about 200 C. in the presence of a weakly acidic decomposition catalyst.

8. A product as described in claim 1 further characterized in that R is a low molecular weight hydrocarbon radical.

9. A product as described in claim 1 further characterized in that R is a saturated open chain aliphatic hydrocarbon radical.

10. A product as described in claim 1 further characterized in that R is an aryl hydrocarbon radical.

s 11. Methoxy-2-b1itadiene-l,3.

12. Ethoxy-2-butadiene-l,3.

13. Phenoxy-2-butadiene-L3.

14. A coating composition comprising a substantial amount of a polymer as described in claim 4 and an organic film-forming material compatible therewith.

15. A coherent film obtained from a. composition comprising a compound as described in claim 13 by spreading the composition in a thin film and allowing it to dry.

16. A coherent film obtained from a composi- 'tion comprising a polymer as described in claim 4 by spreading the composition in a thin film and allowing it to dry.

1'7. In a process which involves decomposing a compound of the general formula H o-a H H I l L H0--( J -co-R1 i l 0-111 H H in which R, R1, and R2 are hydrocarbon radicals, in such a way that one of the products of the decomposition is a compound of the group consisting of alcohols and phenols, the step which comprises heating the compound of the general formula to a temperature of about 50 C. to about 200 C.

18. The process of claim 17 further characterized in that the products of the decomposition are removed from the zone of reaction as they are formed.

19. In a process for preparing a compound of the general formula in which R is a hydrocarbon radical, the step which comprises heating a butane of the general formula ()R CH:=CCH==CH1 is separated from said distillate.

21. The process of claim 7 further characterized in that the weakly acidic decomposition catalyst is potassium acid sulfate and in that the compound of the general formula is heated at a temperature of about C. to about C.

22. The process of claim 7 further characterized in that R, R1, and R: in the general formula are ethyl groups, and in that the weakly acidic decomposition catalyst is a member of the group consisting of magnesium sulfate, potassium bisulfate, camphor sulfonic acid, and p-toluene sulfonic acid.

23. In a process which involves decomposing a compound of the general formula H o-a E III Ema.

III R: H

in which R and R1 are hydrocarbon radicals, in such a way that one of the products of the decomposition is a compound of the group consisting of alcohols and phenols, the step which comprises heating the compound of the general formula to a temperature of about 50 C. to about 200 C. in the presence of a weakly acidic decomposition catalyst.

24. In a process which involves decomposing a compound of the general formula H 0-2. H o-al i H in which R and R1 are hydrocarbon radicals, in such a way that one of the products of the decomposition is a compound of the group consisting of alcohols and phenols, the step which comprises heating the compound of the general formula to a temperature of about 50 C. to about 200 C. in the presence of a weakly acidic decomposition catalyst.

25. A polymer as described in claim 4 further characterized in that R in the general formula is an open chain hydrocarbon radical.

26. A polymer as described in claim 4 further characterized in that R in the general formula is a low molecular weight hydrocarbon radical.

27. A polymer as described in claim 4 further characterized in that R in the general formula is a saturated open chain aliphatic hydrocarbon radical.

28. A polymer as described in claim 4 further characterized in that R in the general formula is an aryl hydrocarbon radical.

29. In a process which involves adding to a compound of the general formula a compound of the general formula R1 (Ii-H), in which A is a member of the group consisting of oxygen and sulfur, H is hydrogen, 1/ is a whole number less than four, and R and R1 are hydrocarbon radicals, the step which comprises bringing the two compounds together and heating them above their reaction temperature but below the temperature at which the addition compound dissociates.

30. A product obtained by polymerizing a compound of the general formula in which R is a hydrocarbon radical, in the presence of a polymerizable organic compound containing an oleflnic linkage selected from: the group consisting of vinyl esters, vinyl ethers, hydrocarbon dienes, drying oils, esters of acrylic acid, and esters of methacrylic acid.

31. The process of claim 19 further characterized in that the weakly acidic decomposition catalyst is selected from the group consisting of magnesium sulfate, potassium bisulfate, camphor sulfonic acid, and p-toluene sulfonic acid.

WALLACE H. CAROTHERS. HARRY B. DYKSTRA. 

